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1997 Ford Thunderbird

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

48 reports with mileage · 121 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

6 reports
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70,000 miles · Mar 11, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR WHILE DRIVING, AND THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. VEHICLE FLIPPED INTO A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND…

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CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR WHILE DRIVING, AND THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. VEHICLE FLIPPED INTO A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED ANDS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT WHILE PARKED OFF THE ROAD. UPDATED 02/28/06

NHTSA ODI #10115033

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER AT 45-50 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 7000.00. THIS WAS THE SECOND ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8019316

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, SHE TURNIED INTO DRIVEWAY WHEN VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #869781

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1999
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CAR WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION AND WHEN BRAKES WHERE APPLIED ALL WHEELS LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER DOING ABOUT 40 MPH BUT CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS SYSTEM - THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON TWICE IN 2 YEARS BOTH BY FORD DEALERS. SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED WITH ABS. ALSO NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE FRONT END…

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CAR WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION AND WHEN BRAKES WHERE APPLIED ALL WHEELS LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER DOING ABOUT 40 MPH BUT CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS SYSTEM - THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON TWICE IN 2 YEARS BOTH BY FORD DEALERS. SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED WITH ABS. ALSO NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE FRONT END THAT HAS SUFFERED DAMAGE (DON'T KNOW COST YET) FRONT BUMPER, HOOD, HEAD LIGHT, DRIVER SIDE FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND DRIVER DOOR ARE ALL DAMAGED. NOT ONLY DID THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOY, BUT AFTER ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH FLASHED ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, AND ALONG WITH THIS THE SHOULDER HARNESSES ON SEATS DID TIGHTEN, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO HOLD PEOPLE BACK TO WHERE ONE PASSENGER IN THE BACK HIT THEIR FACE ON THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT. LUCKILY THERE WERE NOT INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705724

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #704627

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1998
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

WIFE HAD A COLLISION W/NISSEN PICKUP, DOING 40 MPH, ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT END DAMAGE BUT THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE NISSEN PICK DESTROYED. I'M ATTACKING FORD FOR THIS. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW CANN'T MOVE HIS NECK DUE TO HE HIT THE WINDSHEILD, HIS SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THIS C…

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WIFE HAD A COLLISION W/NISSEN PICKUP, DOING 40 MPH, ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT END DAMAGE BUT THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE NISSEN PICK DESTROYED. I'M ATTACKING FORD FOR THIS. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW CANN'T MOVE HIS NECK DUE TO HE HIT THE WINDSHEILD, HIS SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.

NHTSA ODI #701417

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.